Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Ben decided that he wanted a football birthday party. He was so excited for his friends to come over and celebrate him!

When everyone arrived, the boys colored football helmets according to their favorite team. Ben laid out his beloved trading cards so people could get ideas.

Next, we took the boys outside to do a relay race. The boys had to do mountain climbers, push-ups, jumping jacks, and a somersault before they could run back to slap the next person's hand. The boys loved race and got into it cheering on their team. Of course, Ben was jumping with excitement the whole time.

The boys then engaged in a football game, which is what Ben wanted all along, to play football with his friends.

Then the boys came in and we played Don't Eat the Helmet.

Next, we opened presents. Ben got many nice things from his great fiends.

After we opened presents, we had cake and ice cream. Once again, Brandon made the cake and it looked fantastic! He even did the cake in the Denver Bronco colors, one of Ben's favorite teams to watch.

Then the boys went outside and tried their luck at throwing a football through a hula hoop!

After throwing the football through a hula hoop, we blindfolded the boys, turned them around, and counted how many kicks it took for the boy who was blindfolded to actually kick a balloon (like a punter). This game brought much laughs. The boys also enjoyed popping their balloon after they finished their turn.

While we were waiting for parents to arrive, Brandon was throwing the football for the boys to catch!

Once again, I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. It was a fun day to celebrate our Ben with his best buddies!

Monday, December 9, 2013

When the girls arrived, they each were able to pick out a pair of butterfly wings to wear. Emmy picked out polka-a-dot butterfly wings to wear.

While we waited for everyone to arrive, the girls colored pictures of butterflies.

We played Don't Eat the Butterfly.

As well as Pin the Butterfly on the flower.

We also played Flower, Flower, Butterfly (Duck, Duck, Goose)

The girls LOVED playing the Elephun game. Butterflies would squirt out the elephants trunk. There were four wands for people to use to catch the butterflies. Each of the girls were able to have a few turns. It was a lot of fun and brought many smiles and much laughter.

I had a butterfly craft for the girls to make, but we ran out of time.

Emmy was spoiled by her friends and received many nice presents.

Brandon made a beautiful, colorful butterfly cake for the girls to enjoy!

I feel bad that I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted too, but I was busy helping the girls.

Emmy is lucky to have such wonderful friends. It was a fun party to celebrate our sweet Emmy.

er we finished opening presents and eating cake for Ben and Emmy's birthday, we went out and had some fun! We picked up Emmy's new coat and Ben's new bike. Next, we got some lunch at Wendys and then went to Chuck E Cheese and loved every minute! My kids always enjoy going there and have a great time. We were going to go to a movie next, but it was all sold out so we went miniature golfing. We had a wonderful time!

The kids were excited to pick out the golf ball they would use. My boys have decided that "tough boys like pink."

Lucy had some help from Brandon. After a few hits, if her ball didn't go in the hole she would pick it up and put it in the whole and then take it out it . It was pretty fun to watch her. She wants to do exactly what everyone else is doing!

Emmy was constantly posing asking me to take her picture!

Before we headed home, we stopped by Cici's pizza (a favorite from Memphis) to have dinner. It was such a great day to celebrate our silly Ben and cute Emmy. We are lucky to have them part of our family!

Friday, December 6, 2013

On Ben and Emmy's actual birthday in October, we were visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was Stake Temple Day for our Stake and the temple we are assigned to is the temple in Albuquerque.

I made sure to make the kids pancakes for their birthday before we left for Albuquerque and have birthday balloons and streamers to run through! Also, you can't tell, but they are wearing their birthday shirts I made them. Sadly, I don't have a picture since I think we lost those shirts in Albuquerque.

We obtained a hotel for Friday night, Brandon got up and did the earliest session at the temple and then I went after him. While I was doing my session, the kids had a wonderful time swimming in the pool! One of my kids favorite things to do is to swim.

We went back up to the hotel room for the kids to open their presents and have cake and ice cream.

The kids loved their Bronco shirts from Sean and Tracy.

Ben was given some sports trading cards from Hyrum. He has loved them ever since and breaks them out while watching every game on TV to see if he has any of the players.

Hyrum also gave Emmy a loom band set.

Lucy gave the kids some books.

Emmy was very excited for her nail kit! Also, her pumpkin decorating kit that she used to win the prize of most creative pumpkin at our ward Halloween party.

Emmy's big present was a remote control car to drive around her LaLa Loopsy doll in.

Ben was given some beyblades and a timer to keep track of how fast he rips them!

Also, after our birthday celebration, Emmy went and picked out a new winter coat. Ben was able to pick out a new bike (Emmy got a new bike just a month before).

I think Lucy was a little confused that the party wasn't about her that day.

Quote of the Week

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."-President Thomas S Monson

Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf